Rusk man recovers after being shot in ankle at Tyler hospital
BY LELAND ACKER

A tragedy in Tyler Wednesday touched home in Cherokee County as Ronnie Norton, 60 of Alto, was wounded in the ankle during a shooting that occurred at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler.

Richard Lynn White, 43 of Tyler, allegedly went to ETMC to confront his wife, Luccendia. Mr. White told Tyler police after his arrest that his wife was leaving him.

Mr. and Mrs. White were seen arguing inside the hospital before going out the front entrance. Once outside, Mr. White allegedly took a gun from the front of his pants and fired at least five rounds at his wife, said Don Martin, public information officer at the Tyler Police Department.

One of the rounds missed, passed through the front entrance and hit Mr. Norton in the ankle. Mr. Norton, an employee at the Cherokee County Appraisal District (CCAD), was at ETMC to visit his wife who was a patient at the hospital.

In a written statement, the Norton family said, "Due to the ongoing stress of the situation surrounding both the illness of his wife and the tragic event he witnessed and was injured from, the family wishes for privacy at this time while Mr. Norton recuperates."

The statement said Mr. Norton is in good condition.

An employee at the CCAD told the Cherokeean Herald Mr. Norton was visiting his wife, Dottie, when the shooting occurred.

The employee said due to the number of phone calls from the media, Mr. Norton's children had the telephone and cell phone taken from his and his wife's rooms.

Mr. Norton will be going to rehab soon, the CCAD employee said.

Mrs. White was admitted to the hospital and is reportedly in critical condition.